One Background Die, Two Completely Different Cards - Part 1 by Sphoorti

Hello Poppy Peeps!

It's Sphoorti again and I have one card for you today, but it's one of two! Today you'll see one of two ways of how I used the 2483 Ornament Background craft die from the 2021 Holiday Release, and completely differently than intended.

I started off by taking a slimline panel of gray card stock and ink blending Black Soot Distress Ink along the perimeter, and then splattering the entire background with Perfect Pearls. I thought I'd push myself to move out of my comfort zone (i.e. making a clean and simple card with a white background) and I'm so glad I did because I loved how this turned out!

Then, I did a lot of die cutting, starting with the 2537 Layered Holly Branch craft die and the 2535 Pine Needle Shoots craft die from the 2022 Christmas release. I ink blended the white die cuts with Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, and Lucky Clover Distress Inks. I also cut some pine needles using vellum.

I moved onto the star of the show, i.e. the 2483 Ornament Background craft die, and die cut a bunch using regular white card stock (for dimension) and a top layer with silver mirror card stock. I separated the ornaments in the background die cuts from the leaves (this did take some time, so I wouldn't opt to mass produce these!) and I set the leaves aside. (Hint, hint: You're going to need the leaves for Part 2, so don't throw them away!). I backed the ornaments with some vellum so that they stand out more on the dark background.

Once I had all my die cuts layered, colored, backed with foam tape for dimension, I arranged the holly branches and then adhered the ornaments as if they were hanging from the branches. I tied a silver string to the ornaments so that they didn't look like they were floating.

I took the pine needle shoots and adhered them randomly to the branches. I wanted some additional shine / sparkle, so I applied some glue to the holly leaves and sprinkled Diamond Dust on them.

I used a hot foiled Happy Birthday sentiment that I made using the PSF808 Modest Greetings 2 Hot Foil Plate and Die because I plan to send this to a friend who has a December birthday. Finally, I scattered some clear jewels all around and that was it!

Thoughts? Questions? Epiphanies? I typically stop after I add a few elements to a card, but for this one, I just kept adding things on top of other things, and I honestly am very happy with it. I'd love to know your thoughts! Stay tuned to see what I did with the remaining components of the 2483 Ornament Background craft die! Here's a sneak peek: